
Metz goalkeeper Fischer ready for Ligue 1, three years after being a substitute teacher
Now the 23-year-old Dane is preparing for his first season in the French league with newly promoted Metz, which signed him from Norwegian club Fredrikstad on a four-year contract.
He could face Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain later this season, which a while back would have seemed unfathomable.
'Two years ago I was a part-time footballer and three years ago I was a substitute teacher in Denmark,' Fischer said at his official unveiling. 'So I try not to think too far ahead.'
Fischer, who is 1.98 meters (6 feet 6 inches) tall, impressed enough last season with Fredrikstad to persuade Metz to pay a reported fee of 3 million euros ($3.5 million) for him.
Despite his imposing size — slightly bigger than PSG goalie Gianluigi Donnarumma and slightly smaller than Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois — he describes himself as 'quick on the line' and 'capable of playing out from the back.'
Fischer's first impressions of France since arriving?
'A lot of baguettes. It's good, I like it,' he said. 'It's really good food down here (compared) to what I'm used to.' ___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ski jumping's suit trouble is back ahead of Olympics as numerous athletes disqualified
The right suit can help send a ski jumper soaring to gold. The wrong suit will get you grounded. Ski jumping faces more controversy with six months to go until the Winter Olympics after the first high-level competition of the new season saw numerous athletes disqualified over ill-fitting suits. The governing body says it's 'perfectly normal.' The ski jumping world was rocked in March by the discovery of illegally altered suits on the Norwegian team at the world championships. The International Ski Federation investigated officials and athletes over those changes which could help the wearer soar through the air for longer with the suit's larger surface area. In Saturday's first event of the 2025-26 season — a summer Grand Prix event on an artificial surface in France — six male ski jumpers were disqualified because of suit issues such as waist size and three more were 'not permitted to start.' Another jumper from Japan was blocked from competing as the Grand Prix continued Sunday. The federation told The Associated Press in an e-mailed statement that it's treating the spate of disqualifications as the natural result of tightening up the rules after the Norwegian suit scandal. FIS race director Sandro Pertile said he doesn't think anyone was trying to cheat and that fewer disqualifications will occur as teams get used to the rules. Making specialized ski jumping equipment is 'a fairly complicated matter,' he said. 'It's perfectly normal for teams to need some time to adapt to the new situation after such comprehensive changes to the equipment regulations. Some cope with it straight away, others find it difficult at first,' Pertile told the AP. 'It's also important to highlight that these disqualifications are clearly a result of technical inadequacies — there's no sign whatsoever of ill intent from the teams.' FIS indicated that a further nine men and five women didn't compete following a 'technical approval' process, though it wasn't clear if all of those cases involved their suits. Five of those 14 were on the United States team, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Among those disqualified Saturday was Norway's Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, who had previously been provisionally suspended earlier this year following the world championships. FIS signaled it will remain rigorous in its checks through the Olympic season but expects to find athletes wearing increasingly snug — and therefore legal — suits. 'The teams know that they have our full support, and we expect the number of disqualifications to decrease significantly in the coming weeks,' Pertile said. 'With that said, we will remain strict and precise with equipment check the whole season long; there is no room for exceptions.' ___ AP sports:


Winnipeg Free Press
18 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Deandre Kerr scores in injury time as Toronto FC plays Philadelphia Union to 1-1 draw
CHESTER – Deandre Kerr headed home a cross by newly signed Malik Henry in the 91st minute to lift Toronto FC into a 1-1 draw with the high-flying Philadelphia Union in MLS play Saturday. Newly acquired designated player Djordje Mihailovic had a hand in the buildup to the goal, finished off by the two substitutes. Henry, a 23-year-old midfielder from Hamilton, had signed his first-team contact earlier in the day. Ten minutes of injury time made for a tense ending at Subaru Park after Kerr's third goal of the season After falling behind in the fourth minute on an Indiana Vassilev goal, Toronto (5-13-7) regrouped and avoided further damage in the first half. While both teams managed just one shot on target in the first 45 minutes, Philadelphia converted its chance. The game opened up in the second half and Toronto came on, denied in the 83rd minute when Andre Blake made a tremendous save to stop Kevin Long's shot off a Mihailovic corner. Kai Wagner's excellent set-piece deliveries caused Toronto problems all night and Philadelphia appeared to have doubled its lead in the 56th minute on a Wagner free kick, with Israeli international Tai Baribo eventually heading the ball home after a goalmouth scramble. But the goal was ruled offside on video review. While the Union outshot Toronto 11-9, both teams put four shots on target. Toronto came into weekend play in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, 14 points below the playoff line and 29 behind first-place Philadelphia (15-5-6). TFC's last road win over the Union was a 3-1 decision in March 2019. Mihailovic, who had had just one training session with Toronto, started up front, operating on the left slightly behind Norwegian striker Ola Brynhildsen. As the game progressed, the 26-year-old U.S. international took a more central position behind Brynhildsen. Mihailovic had a half-chance in the 20th minute, put in behind the defence by Brynhildsen, but Philadelphia defender Jakob Glesnes closed him down before he could put a shot on target. In the 26th minute, Mihailovic split the Union defence with a fine pass to Brynhildsen but the Philadelphia defenders got back in time to snuff out the threat, Mihailovic, who also took corners for Toronto, came off in the 96th minute. The star playmaker was acquired Thursday from the Colorado Rapids in a transfer that could cost TFC US$9 million. Mihailovic has also played for CF Montreal and the Chicago Fire as well as AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands. Luca Gavran had a busy night in goal for Toronto with No. 1 'keeper Sean Johnson, who had started TFC's previous 24 league games, going though concussion protocol after taking a knock in training. Milan Iloski, Philadelphia's new signing from Denmark's FC Nordsjælland, made his debut off the bench in the 67th minute. The 26-year-old American made 14 appearances for expansion San Diego FC earlier this season on loan, scoring 10 goals and adding one assist. In June, he scored four goals in a 12-minute span against the Vancouver Whitecaps, the fastest four-goal performance in league history. The Union struck quickly, going ahead on a slick counterattack after Richie Laryea lost possession. Philadelphia moved the ball forward like clockwork and Baribo found an unmarked Vassilev, who had left Theo Corbeanu in his tracks. The American midfielder, making no mistake on Philadelphia's first shot of the evening, beat the six-foot-six Gavran with a low shot to the corner for his third of the year. Glesnes was shown a yellow card in the 28th minute for taking down fellow Norwegian Brynhildsen, a caution that will result in a one-game ban for yellow card accumulation. Corbeanu put Toronto's first shot on target in the 38th minute, forcing a save from Blake. Haiti midfielder Danley Jean Jacques had a chance to make it 2-0 for Philadelphia in the 50th minute but his shot was wide with Gavran unsighted. At the other end, Laryea found Corbeanu after a fine run but his weak shot was easily handled by Blake in the 61st. Gavran made a fine reflex save on a powerful shot by Jesús Bueno in the 69th minute. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Tempers flared in the 77th minute when Union defender Olwethu Makhanya hit Gavran with a shot off a corner after the whistle was blown. Makhanya and Kerr were both cautioned on the play. Toronto was coming off after a bye week due to Leagues Cup play, having previously lost at Charlotte (2-0) and Nashville (1-0). TFC had won just one of its last five outings (1-3-1). Philadelphia drew German's Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 in a friendly last Saturday at Subaru Park. In league play, it was coming off a 3-1 win over visiting Colorado and was unbeaten in its four previous four league outings (3-0-1) after a pair of 1-0 away losses to Columbus and Nashville. Up next, Philadelphia plays the visiting New York Red Bulls on Wednesday in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal while Toronto hosts the Columbus Crew next Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2025.


Toronto Star
a day ago
- Toronto Star
PSG signs goalkeeper Chevalier from Lille amid uncertainty over Donnarumma's future
PARIS (AP) — Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain signed goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from Lille on a five-year contract Saturday, amid increasing uncertainty over Gianluigi Donnarumma's future at the club. The transfer fee was not disclosed but French sports daily L'Équipe reported that PSG paid just over 40 million euros ($46.5 million) for the 23-year-old Chevalier, with the deal potentially rising to 55 million euros in case of future bonuses.